Apparatus and method for self-test of thermostat

ABSTRACT

An environmental control system includes at least one of a security monitoring system, or a building automation control system. A thermostat coupled to the at least one system, where the thermostat provides feedback as to output signals therefrom to evaluate functioning of the thermostat. The output signals would be coupled to a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.

FIELD

The application pertains to apparatus and methods for self-testing of thermostats associated with a security system, or an environmental control system, associated with a commercial building or residence. More particularly, the application pertains to such apparatus and methods where confirmatory feedback signals can be generated by the thermostat for diagnostic or self-test purposes.

BACKGROUND

The security space is evolving into Green solutions, home automation, lighting control and HVAC integration. The challenge going forward is that security dealers monitoring security systems in homes with integrated HVAC thermostats will be getting the calls when the HVAC system is not operating, whether it is caused by the security/home automation/thermostat or not.

They will be spending money to investigate HVAC malfunctions not associated with the security system, home automation system, or thermostat, by having to send a service technician to the site to rule out the security/home automation/thermostat. Such unnecessary trips can become a significant expense.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a system in accordance herewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated.

In one aspect, a thermostat can be integrated into a security system or home automation system (using wired, wireless, z-wave, ziggbie or other). The thermostat includes a self-test feature that can ensure that when the temperature is raised or lowered, whether on site or remotely, the proper thermostat relay is triggered/restored sending the proper signal to the HVAC equipment then responsible for heating or cooling. A message can be transmitted that the heating and cooling interface relays are functioning properly and when required. In such instances, HVAC malfunctioning usually resides in other parts of the HVAC system such as a blower, a boiler, air conditioner, or power to the boiler.

In operation, a homeowner or business calls the central station complaining of HVAC issue. The central station can ask an on-site person to initiate a test, can initiate the test remotely, or simply monitor the indicators of a continual test.

Central station personnel can then ask the on-site person to raise the thermostat set point above the actual temperature in the room or region being monitored. Conversely, the central station can raise the thermostat set point remotely without a local presence. When the thermostat is above the temperature, there should be the appropriate relay activation/deactivation (so in the summer, the cooling, for example air conditioning, function should turn on. In the winter, the heating function would turn off). The self-test would send a message indicating the actual state of the relay to the security system/home automation system which then transmits the message to the central station.

Central station personnel, or the on-site person can then lower the set point temperature to ensure the relays switch state once again. In this way, the central station personnel can eliminate the need for a service call due to malfunctioning equipment beyond the scope of the equipment they installed and are monitoring. Advantageously, they can fully test the thermostat functionality, ensuring relay activation/deactivation for heating/cooling/humidity above and below a set point threshold.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall combination 10, in accordance herewith, which includes an environmental control element 12 which is coupled to a conventional HVAC system 14. System 14 includes heating and air conditioning sub-systems 14 a, b and a connection interface 14 c. System 14 responds to control signals generated by control element 12 as discussed below. Combination 10 provides heating, and/or cooling for a monitored region R, a residence or other building.

Control element 12 can include one or both of a local security monitoring system 18 a, and/or home or building automation control system 18 b. A local thermostat 20, which monitors temperature in the region R, is in wired or wireless communication, indicated at 20-1, with one or both of the systems 18 a,b. Thermostat 20, on a programmed, or non-programmed, basis couples heating or cooling control signals such as 24 a, b, via a heating signal output port and a cooling signal output port, to the heating and air conditioning units 14 a,b to heat or cool the region R as would be understood by those of skill in the art.

It will be understood that the specific details of thermostat 20, except as described herein, are not limitations of the scope of the claims hereof. Embodiments implemented with various types of thermostats come with the spirit and scope hereof. Similarly, the details of any associated HVAC system are not limitations of the claims hereof.

In accordance herewith, the thermostat 20 includes a heater switch, for example a solid state switch, or a relay, 20 a and an air conditioning switch, a different switch or relay, 20 b which provide the switched control signals 24 a, b to the HVAC system 14. In addition, thermostat 20 includes circuitry 20 a-1, 20 b-1 to generate feedback signals 22 a, 22 b indicative of the real-time values of signals 24 a,b.

The feedback signals 22 a, 22 b can be coupled or transmitted via interface 20 c to the system or systems 18 a, b to provide information to the system(s) 18 a,b as to the values or states of output signals 24 a,b being coupled to the HVAC interface 14 c. Those feedback signals, received via communication link 20-1 can be evaluated at the respective security system 18 a, or automation control system 18 b to determine if the switches, or relays 20 a, 20 b are functioning properly.

It will also be understood that various circuits can be used to generate the feedback signals 22 a,b from thermostat 20. For example, optical isolators, or operational amplifiers coupled to the control signals 24 a,b could be used to generate the feedback signals. The exact details thereof are not limitations of the claims hereof.

The thermostat 20 can include the transmission interface 20 c which receives the feedback signals 22 a,b and forwards them, via link 20-1 to the system(s) 18 a,b. It will be understood that where the feedback message, or messages sent from thermostat 20 indicate that the thermostat 20 is working properly, and the heating unit 14 a or cooling unit 14 b are not responding properly, service of one or both of those units may be required. For example, a defective boiler or furnace such as 14 a, or, a failure of power to the boiler or furnace, or a malfunction of the air conditioner 14 b may need to be addressed, quite apart from any of the systems 18 a,b or thermostat 20.

The structure 12 could also be in wireless communication, via antenna 18 c and communication link 12 a, with a regional monitoring station S where monitoring personnel can respond to incoming messages from structure 12. In the event that individuals working or residing in the monitored region R contact the monitoring station S relative to performance of the HVAC system 14, the feedback signals 22 a, b provide diagnostic information as to where a problem might be located.

It will also be understood that the central station S might be in real-time, wireless communication with a plurality of environmental control systems 12-1, -2,-3 . . . -n comparable to the system 10. As a result of being able to evaluate feedback from the respective thermostats, comparable to thermostat 20, personnel at the central station S will be able to more effectively and promptly provide preliminary assessments as to where maintenance is needed with respect to displaced, respective environmental control systems 12-1 . . . 12-n.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A method comprising: providing a thermostat to control temperature in a region being monitored; providing a self-test feature for the thermostat that monitors output signals from the thermostat; determining that a test should be conducted by the thermostat; altering a temperature setting of the thermostat; monitoring an output signal from the thermostat; and determining if the output signal corresponds to an expected output signal.
 16. A method as in claim 15 where altering comprises one of raising or lowering the temperature setting.
 17. A method as in claim 15 where altering comprises altering the temperature setting in a first direction and then monitoring the output signal from the thermostat, followed by altering the temperature setting in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and then monitoring the output signal from the thermostat.
 18. A method as in claim 17 which includes providing a monitoring facility and evaluating the output signals at the facility.
 19. A method as in claim 15 where monitoring includes determining if maintenance of the thermostat is needed.
 20. A method as in claim 15 which includes testing the thermostat functionally including testing circuit activation.
 21. A method as in claim 20 including testing functionality of a heating input, a cooling input or a humidity input.
 22. A method comprising: providing at least one of a security monitoring system, or a building automation control system; and providing a thermostat which provides output signals, the thermostat is coupled to at least one system, and including providing feedback from the thermostat to at least one system as to the output signals, and coupling the output signals to a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.
 23. A method as in claim 22 which includes communicating information to a displaced monitoring station.
 24. A method as in claim 22 which includes evaluating feedback from the thermostat.
 25. A method as in claim 24 which includes providing electrical signals indicative of selected parameters of the output signals.
 26. A method as in claim 22 which includes monitoring feedback signals from the thermostat.
 27. A method as in claim 26 which includes providing at least one of optical isolators, or operational amplifiers.
 28. A method as in claim 25 which includes providing feedback signal generating circuits coupled to electrical signals from the thermostat.
 29. A method as in claim 28 which includes providing at least one of optical isolators, or operational amplifiers.
 30. A method of operating a regional monitoring system comprising: providing one of a residential security system, or a home automation system; and providing a thermostat to monitor temperature in a selected region, the thermostat includes a heating control output signal and a cooling control output signal and providing feedback circuits coupled to each of the output signals and generating feedback signals indicative of the real-time state of the heating control output signal, and the cooling control output signal and coupling the feedback signals to one of the systems.
 31. A method as in claim 30 which includes providing an output interface and coupling the feedback signals, via one of a wired, or a wireless communication link to at least one of the security system or the automation system.
 32. A method as in claim 31 which includes providing at least one of optical isolators, or operational amplifiers. 